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I know that a reason for wearing a black hat is because one must wear two layers covering their head (Mishna Brurah 91:5) but am wondering if that Din is based in Kabbalah?

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  • Are you referring to the Mishna Brurah 91:5
    – sam
    Apr 29, 2013 at 23:33
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    @DoubleAA That comment claims the Beit Yosef as a source, but does not give a specific citation.
    – Fred
    Apr 29, 2013 at 23:35
  • @DoubleAA Do you know the specific location of that answer you linked me to?
    – Bochur613
    Apr 29, 2013 at 23:45
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    @Bochur613 It's possible that the commenter on the other question was referring to BY OC 8:5, where R' Yosef Karo suggests as one alternative explanation of the Tur that, for purposes of modesty and humility, one should wear a scarf or tallis over one's head in addition to the standard kippa. He does not explicitly write that this would remove the need for the kippa, though one might infer that based on the apparent underlying reasoning. The BY does not appeal to kabbalistic reasons, just to modesty ("לצניעות ולפי שכיסוי זה מכניע את לב האדם ומביאו לידי יראת שמים").
    – Fred
    Apr 30, 2013 at 0:30

1 Answer 1

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http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pagefeed/hebrewbooks_org_26128_37.pdf He discusses it there and brings maharsha in shabbos 156b on the gemoro of why R Nachman's mother covered his head specially because she was warned that he would one day become a thief. He asks everyone has to cover his head otherwise because of the shchina. He replies that she gave it 'extra' covering. From this we learn that 'extra' covering gives more yiras shomaim and stops you even becoming a thief. This of course doesnt answer why it has to be black which is really no more than fashion. This could be one good answer for the question of why one has extra head coverings. See also the comments here.

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  • Another question could be how much is the minimum of the head that has to be covered. If asked I can provide the answer.
    – user2709
    Apr 30, 2013 at 8:12
  • Please see my question judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/11004/… and some of the answers comments which relate to your comment. Apr 30, 2013 at 14:21
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    @shulem, Feel free to ask that question yourself and provide an answer! But please read this and this before asking and answering your own question.
    – Daniel
    Apr 30, 2013 at 15:04
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    "He says" Who's he?
    – HodofHod
    Apr 30, 2013 at 16:09
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    The Maharsha is referring to wearing a larger head covering, not necessarily while still wearing the smaller one. "Extra covering" refers to the size of the head covering, not to the number of coverings.
    – Fred
    Apr 30, 2013 at 18:40

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